Spray rinse device for washer-extractor

ABSTRACT

A washing machine having a housing structure with a pivotally mounted closure means and including a power driven basket rotatably supported for tumbling clothes during a washing cycle and spinning clothes during a rinsing and spin-drying cycle. The washing machine includes automatic control means for effecting washing, rinsing and spin-drying cycles of operation. Electrically controlled locking means is operatively associated with the closure means for maintaining the closure means in a locked position during cyclic operation of the washing machine, with the locking means being automatically releasable after a washing cycle of operation is completed. Spraying means is supported on the closure means for spraying a liquid rinsing medium radially outward through the rotatable clothes supporting basket during a rinsing cycle. The spraying means includes valve means cyclically controlled for continuously dispensing rinsing liquid during a rinsing cycle, with the valve being operable for stopping the flow of liquid through the dispensing nozzles in response to the closure being moved to an open position.

Barton et al.

1451 May 21, 1974 SPRAY RINSE DEVICE FOR WASHER-EXTRACTOR [75] inventors: Henry W. Barton; Robert Cloud,

both of Wichita, Kans.

[73] Assigneez, Unimac Company, Inc., Marianna,

Fla.

221 Filed: June 26,1972 [2i] Appl. No.: 266,255

Berger et al. 68/12 R X I Primary Examinerl-larvey C. Hornsby Assistant ExaminerPhilip R. Coe

Attorney, Agent, :or Firm-v-Newton, Hopkins &

Ormsby' 57 ABSTRACT A washing machine having a housing structure with a pivotally mounted closure means and including a power driven basket rotatably supported for tumbling clothes during a washing cycle and spinning clothes during a rinsing and spin-drying cycle. The washing machine includes automatic control means for effecting washing, rinsing and spin-drying cycles of operation. Electrically controlled locking means is operatively associated with the closure means for maintaining the closure means in a locked position during cyclic operation of the washing machine, with the locking means being automatically releasable after a washing cycle of operation is completed. Spraying means is supported on the closure means for spraying a liquid rinsing medium radially outward through the rotatable clothes supporting basket during a rinsing cycle. The spraying means includes valve means cyclically controlled for continuously dispensing rinsing liquid during a rinsing cycle, with the valve being operable for stopping the flow of liquid through the dispensing nozzles in response to the closure being moved to an, open position.

' I 10 Claims, 8 Drawing 'Figures FATENTEDHAY 21 I914 3.811.360

SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG 4 owe PATENiEMm 1914 3811 B90 SHEET 2 BF 2 SPRAY RINSE DEVICE FOR WASHER-EXTRACTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Washing machines having a power driven rotatablebasket for supporting clothes, with the washing, rinsing and spin-drying cycles being automatically controlled are in common use. However, the prior art washing machines rinse clothes after a washing cycle by dispensing a predetermined amount of rinsing liquid into the washing machine, rotating the clothes through the liquid rinsing medium for a predetermined period of time, and then exhausting the rinsing medium, with this cyclic rinsing step repeated a number of times. One problem with this method of rinsing clothes is that the clothes being rinsed arecontinuously subjected to the same rinsing medium. In order to effectively rinse clothes in this manner, a-n'umber of rinsing cycles must be repeated, thus increasingthe total washing machine cyclic time required for a rinsing operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above disadvantages have been overcome by the present invention which basically includes a washing machine housing structure having a power driven rotatable basket for use in tumbling clothes during a washing cycle and spinning clothes during a rinsing and spindrying cycle. One important feature of the present invention is the provision of spraying means which are automatically controlled during a rinsing cycle of oper-' A further feature of the present invention is the provision of cyclically controlled locking means for maintaining the closure means in a locked position during cyclic operation of thewashing machine.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a washing machine having an improved apparatus for rinsing clothes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine wherein the rinsing of the clothes is effected by continuously spraying a clean or fresh cleansing medium radially outward through clothes being supported and moved in an orbital path around the spraying means.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which is simple in construction and operation, economical to manufacture and reliable in performance.

These and other objects andadvantages of the details of construction will become apparent after'reading. the

following description of, the illustrative embodiment, with reference to the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals have been used to refer to like parts throughout the several figures, and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical schematic view taken longitudinally through the washing machine of FIG. 1 with certain parts being omitted and certain parts broken away and shown in section for purpose of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the details of construction used for supporting the spraying nozzles, conduit supply and valve control means;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the dispensing nozzles,

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 6-'-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7v is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing the closure means locking control apparatus; and 1 FIG. 8 is avertical elevational view as seen along line 88 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, the washing machine embodying the principles of. the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 and generally represented by the reference numeral 10. The washing machine I0 includes a housing structure having a base 11 and upstanding end and sidewall structures 12, 13. (Onlytwo of the sidewall structures 12, 13 are shown, but it is-to be understood that the washing machine housing structure would have a second end wall 12 and sidewall 13 arranged parallel to the first end and sidewall, respectively, for defining a substantially rectangular housing structure.) Supported on the upper edges of housing wall structures l2, 13 is a cylindrical shaped housing '14 having a front wall 15 and a rear wall (not shown). Front wall 15 is provided with an entrance opening 16, as shown in FIG. 2. i

Supported within cylindrical housing structure 14 is a conventional clothes supporting basket structure 17. Basket 17 is provided with a plurality of apertures which will permit the radial outward flow of liquid washing and rinsing mediums. Clothes supporting basket structure 17 is supported by conventional bearing means (not shown) for rotation about a horizontal action by conventional belt and pulley drive means 18. Power is delivered to the belt and pulley drive means from a conventional electric motor means. The drive to the rotatable basket 17 is selectively controlled during washing machine cycles of operation by means of cyclic control timing mechanismshown in FIGS. 1 and 4 and generally represented by the reference numeral 20. The cyclic control timing mechanism is of conventional construction and is not described in detail, since the specific construction of the timing mechanism forms no part of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the washing machine em- 7 pensing nozzles 3t, 32 operable for dispensing liquid rinsing medium radially outward through the rotatable basket means 17 during a rinsing cycle of operation. As shown in FIGS. and 6, each of the dispensing nozzles 31, 32 include a dome-shaped housing having a threaded entrance opening 33 and a dispensing or liquid ejecting port 34. Dispensing nozzles-31, 32 are adapted to be supported on the washing machine door 25 by a pair of conduit nippies 36, 37. Conduit nipples '36, 37 are supported in hermetically sealed relationship in diametrically opposed relationship on door 25. Dispensing'nozzle 31 is detailed in angular set relationship such that the ejecting port 34 sprays liquid rinsing medium radially outward or to the left, as shown in FIG. 3 and-dispensing. nozzle 32 is angularly set such that port 34 sprays liquid cleansing medium radially outward to the right as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a liquid rinsing medium is supplied to the dispensing nozzles 31,32 by independent conduit means 41, 51. Conduit means 41 includes a pivotally adjustable conduit element 42 having a top portion 43 and a bottom portion 44. The conduit portions- 43, 44 are hermetically sealed and pivotally adjustable relative to each other about a common axis. The bottom conduit portion 44 is provided with a threaded opening (not shown) which is received on an upper extended threaded end 29a of hinge pin 29 so that angular adjustable conduit element 42 is coaxially supported relative to the pivotal axis of hinge elements 27, 28. Angularly adjustable conduit portion 43 is connected by a conduit line 45 and elbow conduit connecting element 46 to spray nozzle nipple support element 36. The ang'ularly adjustable conduit portion 44 is conn'ectedby a conduit portion 47 to a control valve 48.

As shown in FIG. 4, conduit means 51 is provided with an angular adjustable conduit element 52 having twoconduit portions 53, 54. Conduit portions '53, 54 arehermetically sealed and angularly adjustable relative toeach'other to permit the flow of material there through. As shown in FIG. 4, conduit element 52 is provided with a threaded opening 55 adapted to be thread-' ably connected to a downwardly extending threaded end 29b of hinge pin 29. such that the angular adjust able portions53. 54 would be coaxially supported rela tive to the hinge axis. Conduit portion 53 is connected by a supply line 56 and elbow connecting element 57 n 'to nipple 37 associated with. dispensing nozzle 32. rinsing liquid medium is supplied to conduit portion 54 by means of aconnecting line 58. Connecting line 58 is operatively connected to control valve 48. Control valve 48 is operatively associated with a supply of liquid rinsing medium through an input supply line 59. Control valve 48 is controlled between an opened and closed position by a solenoid 60. Solenoid 60 is controlled by means of an automatic cyclically controlled I mechanism 20. I

whereby angular adjustment of the door 25 will effect corresponding angular movement of cam element 66. Cam 66 is detailed such that when the door is moved to a closed position, plunger 62 is spring biased outwardly allowing switch 61 to close whereby current can flow to solenoid 60 as programmed by the automatic cyclic control mechanism 20. However, when door 25 is opened, cam 66 will push plunger 62 outwardly thereby opening switch 61 to allow valve 48 to bespring biased to a closed position.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, the

washing machine door or closure means 25 is provided with locking'means generally represented by the reference numeral for securing the door in a locked position during the washing machine cycles of operation. The door locking means includes a pair of pivotally mounted locking lugs 81, 82. Each lug 81, 82 includes a projecting portion 81a, 82a detailed for camming'engagement with the outer surface of door 25 to maintain the door in a secured locked position. As shown in FIGS; 1 and 7, locking element 81 is provided with a handle portion Slbfor effecting angular adjustment of locking element. Locking element 81 is pivotally con-- I nected to locking element '82 by link member 83. Link member 83 is pivotally connected at84 to locking element 81 and is pivotally connected at 85 to locking e lement 82. Prior to initiating a washing machine cycle of operation, door 25 is moved to a closed position, handle element Slais grasped and the locking elements 8 l 82 are angularly adjusted to cause'locking lugs 81a, 82a to engage the outer surface of the door to maintain the door in a closed position.

. As shown in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, the door locking elements 8!, 82- are maintained in a locked position by I means of an electromagnetically actuated I locking plunger 90. Locking plunger isadapted-to be selectively engaged between a pair of locking lugs 83a, 83b formed on the rear side of link 83. Locking plunger 90 is controlled in a locking and unlocking operation by means of an electromagnetic solenoid 9 5. Plunger 90 is spring biased inwardly to an unlocked position by means of a conventional compression spring means 96 and is adapted to be displaced outwardly to a locked position by means of solenoid .95. Solenoid is operated by the cyclic control mechanism 20 through a pair of input control lines 95a, 95b. As shown in FIGS. I and 7, plunger 90 and solenoid 95 are supported within a housing 98 supported on the front of the washing ma chine adjacent an intermediate portion of link 83.

OPERATION In utilizing the washing machine embodying the prin-v ciples'of the present invention in a washing operation,

the door 25 is adjusted to an open position, clothes to 82 are angularly adjusted to a locked position. After the door is securely closed and locked, a washing operation is initiated by actuation of the cyclic control mechanism 20. The cyclic control mechanism is of conventional construction and includes initiating mechanism for initiating and controlling the automatic cycles in a washing operation. After the'machine washing cycles have started, solenoid 95 will be energized to displace lo'cking plunger 90 outward into locking engagement between locking lugs 83a, 83b and will hold the door in a secure locked position until the washing machine cycles are completed.

When the machine washing cycle is completed and a rinsing cycle is initiated, basket 17 will rapidly rotate to cause all of the washing water to be dispensed outwardly through the basket aperture 17a. After spinning a predetermined period of time, sufficient to remove the washing water, a rinsing cycle will be initiated wherein solenoid 60 will be energized to adjust valve 48 to an open position. When valve 48 is opened, a rinsing medium will be conducted through each of the conduit means 41, 51 and outwardly through the dispensing nozzles 31, 32.- The liquid rinsing medium dispensed outwardly through the dispensing nozzle 31, 32 will be directed radially outward through the clothes orbiting about the rotary axis of basket 17. The rinsing medium will be continuously dispensed until the clothes have been effectively rinsed. By utilizing a spray of rinsing material directed outward through orbital moving clothes, the cyclic time required in a rinsing operation is substantially reduced and the clothes are more effectively rinsed of the washing water and any cleaning detergents used during a washing cycle.

it now becomes apparent that the above described illustrative embodiment of a washing machine is capable of obtaining the above stated objects and advantages. It is obvious that those skilled in the art may make modifications in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention which is to be limited by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved washing machine having a power driven rotatable basket for use in tumbling clothes during a washing cycle and spinning clothes during a rinsing and spin-dryingcycle, said improved washing machine including means for spraying a liquid medium radially outward through said rotatable basket during said rinsing cycle, said washing machine including an entrance opening having a selectively movable closure means and said spraying means including liquid dispensing means supported on. said closure means, said spraying means including a number of dispensing nozzles detailed for spraying liquid radially outward in opposite directions through said rotatable basket, said nozzles including valve control means operable for stopping the flow of liquid medium to said dispensing nozzles in response to said closure means being opened.

2. An improved washing machine as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said liquid dispensing means includes an electromagnetic control valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said dispensing nozzles.

3. An improved washing machine as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that said closure means is pivotally supported on said washing machine and wherein said spraying means includes conduit means operatively connecting said control valve to said dispensing nozzles, said conduit means including pivotal adjustment means coaxially supported relative to said closure pivot support means.

4. A washing machine having automatic control means for cyclically controlling clothes in washing, rinsing and spin-drying operations comprising, in combination:

a. a washing machine housing structure having an entrance opening with a pivotally mounted closure means supported on said housing structure for selective movement between opened and closed positions;

b. a cylindrical basket structure supported in said washing machine housing, said basket structure including a perforated cylindrical surface which will permit liquid to pass radially outward therethrough and including rotatable means for rotating said hasket in washing, rinsing and spin-drying operations; and v a 0. means supported on said washing machine for spraying'a liquid medium radially outward through said rotatable basket during a rinsing cycle of operation;

' d. said spraying means including anumber of dispensing nozzles supported on said closure means for spraying liquid in opposite directions, radially outward through said basket and e. control means operatively associated with said spray nozzles for stopping the flow ofliquidv through said dispensing nozzles in response to said closure means being open.

5. A washing machine as defined in claim 4 further characterized in that said valve control means is an electromagnetic control valve.

6. A washing machine as defined in claim 5 further characterized in that said closure means is pivotally supported on said washing machine housing structure and wherein said spraying means includes conduit means operatively connecting said control valve to said dispensing nozzles with said conduit means including angular adjustment means coaxially supported relative to said closure pivot support means.

7. An improved washing machine as defined in claim 1, further including means for locking said closure means in closed position during operation of said machine.

8. Animproved washing machine as defined in claim 7 including electrically operated means for releasing said locking means in response to completion of the washing operation. I

9. A washing machine as defined in claim 4 including means for locking said closure means in closed position during machinecycleoperations.

10. A washing machine as in claim 9 including cyclically controlled electromagnetic means operable for releasing said locking means in response to completion of said washing operation. 

1. An improved washing machine having a power driven rotatable basket for use in tumbling clothes during a washing cycle and spinning clothes during a rinsing and spin-drying cycle, said improved washing machine including means for spraying a liquid medium radially outward through said rotatable basket during said rinsing cycle, said washing machine including an entrance opening having a selectively movable closure means and said spraying means including liquid dispensing means supported on said closure means, said spraying means including a number of dispensing nozzles detailed for spraying liquid radially outward in opposite directions through said rotatable basket, said nozzles including valve control means operable for stopping the flow of liquid medium to said dispensing nozzles in response to said closure means being opened.
 2. An improved washing machine as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said liquid dispensing means includes an electromagnetic control valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said dispensing nozzles.
 3. An improved washing machine as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that said closure means is pivotally supported on said washing machine and wherein said spraying means includes conduit means operatively connecting said control valve to said dispensing nozzles, said conduit means including pivotal adjustment means coaxially supported relative to said closure pivot support means.
 4. A washing machine having automatic control means for cyclically controlling clothes in washing, rinsing and spin-drying operations comprising, in combination: a. a washing machine housing structure having an entrance opening with a pivotally mounted closure means supported on said housing structure for selective movement between opened and closed positions; b. a cylindrical basket structure supported in said washing machine housing, said basket structure including a perforated cylindrical surface which will permit liquid to pass radially outward therethrough and including rotatable means for rotating said basket in washing, rinsing and spin-drying operations; and c. means supported on said washing machine for spraying a liquid medium radially outward through said rotatable basket during a rinsing cycle of operation; d. said spraying means including a number of dispensing nozzles supported on said closure means for spraying liquid in opposite directions, radially outward through said basket and e. control means operatively associated with said spray nozzles for stopping the flow of liquid through said dispensing nozzles in response to said closure means being open.
 5. A washing machine as defined in claim 4 further characterized in that said valve control means is an electromagnetic control valve.
 6. A washing machine as defined in claim 5 further characterized in that said closure means is pivotally supported on said washing machine housing structure and wherein said spraying means includes conduit means operatiVely connecting said control valve to said dispensing nozzles with said conduit means including angular adjustment means coaxially supported relative to said closure pivot support means.
 7. An improved washing machine as defined in claim 1, further including means for locking said closure means in closed position during operation of said machine.
 8. An improved washing machine as defined in claim 7 including electrically operated means for releasing said locking means in response to completion of the washing operation.
 9. A washing machine as defined in claim 4 including means for locking said closure means in closed position during machine cycle operations.
 10. A washing machine as in claim 9 including cyclically controlled electromagnetic means operable for releasing said locking means in response to completion of said washing operation. 